Cubs, Sosa bury Marlins, even series

CHICAGO - Once the ball flew off Sammy Sosa's bat and soared toward the juniper bushes in dead center field, there was no telling how far it might go.

And if he keeps hitting like this, there's no telling how far he might take these Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs put on a startling display of raw power at the plate and on the mound Wednesday night, and behind Mark Prior overwhelmed the Florida Marlins 12-3 to even the NL championship series after two games.

Alex Gonzalez homered twice and Aramis Ramirez also connected for the Cubs. But once again, Sosa woke up Wrigley Field.

"This is the prime time to do it," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "He really hasn't had a hot streak all year. It seems when he does, he hits a home run every at-bat. I'm hoping it's on the way. Boy, it's coming right on time."

A day after he tied the game with a two-out, two-run shot in the ninth for his first postseason home run, Sosa hit a two-run drive in the second inning that went even farther.

By a lot.

Sosa launched a 495-foot shot that cleared the ivy-covered wall, sailed over the shrubbery that serves as a batter's backdrop and threatened to fly completely out of the park. Only a television camera booth kept the ball from becoming a street souvenir.

Teammate Kenny Lofton, who was on third base, shuddered as he watched it go. Marlins center fielder Juan Pierre didn't even bother to move.

Asked whether he had rethought his strategy about pitching to Sosa, McKeon bucked up.

"Did he beat us? Enough said," he said.

Now, the best-of-seven series shifts to Pro Player Stadium for Game 3 Friday night. While the Marlins are one of baseball's best home teams, the Cubs must like their chances with Kerry Wood pitching against Mark Redman.

Wood pitched a two-hitter and a three-hitter against the Marlins this year, striking out a total of 20, and is 4-0 against them lifetime.

Following the Marlins' 9-8, 11-inning win in the opener when the teams combined for an NLCS-record 17 extra-base hits, hitters again wore out the gaps and corners.

This time, the big hits went in Chicago's favor and so did the little ones. Lofton tied an NLCS mark with four hits, all singles.

Prior cruised until the sixth, when Derrek Lee and rookie Miguel Cabrera led off with consecutive home runs that made it 11-2.